The Hop to return to Potsdam

POTSDAM  The Hop, a 1950s-style restaurant, will reopen in the village after being shut for eight years.

The restaurant opened in 1994 and closed in 2005 after a decline in business. The building is owned Lawrence J. and Pamela S. Hazen, who originally ran the Hop and made the decision to close it.

The new Hop will have the same name and location, but with new faces in charge. The business will be managed by Daniel and Rebecca McDermott. Ms. McDermott is a former server at the Hazens Maxfields restaurant who worked with the Hazens to start her own business. She is a Massena native, who never ate at the original Hop, but she said she jumped at the chance to open her own restaurant.

My husband and I really wanted to open up our own little place, she said.

The Hop will maintain its 1950s styling, serving diner food like burgers and shakes alongside more modern dishes like crepes. It will serve breakfast and lunch, and from Wednesday through Saturday will remain open until 3 a.m. with an affordable late-night menu to appeal to the college crowd, according to Ms. McDermott.

Its just going to be a fun, upbeat atmosphere, she said.

The owners of Potsdams Thai Cuisine Restaurant rented the location in 2010 with plans to open Noodle House, an eatery promising low-cost soups. Although a Noodle House sign still hangs above the door, the plan never came to fruition and the space has remained vacant since 2005.

The Hop is scheduled to open on April 1.

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